Deliciously Ironic – More Money in Politics Causes Unexpected Dilemmas for Republicans

[eridani]

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/03/28/1373949/-Deliciously-Ironic-More-Money-in-Politics-Causes-Unexpected-Dilemmas-for-Republicans

The Citizens United decision by SCOTUS was celebrated by Republicans because it opened the flood gates to more money in politics. They envisaged record amounts of money being spent on their elections and this indeed happened as we saw in the 2014 Midterms. Little did they realize how it could also adversely impact them. They are finding out, however, and they are not happy about it.

The first obvious deleterious effect occurred in the House and has leveraged a major split in Republican ranks. Most see this as a factional split between the establishment and the tea party but, like the melting polar icebergs, there is a lot more going on beneath the surface.

Traditionally, the Speaker's position embraces a number of duties, responsibilities and abilities. These include assigning committee positions and a proven ability to raise enormous amounts of money for the party. The latter has helped to keep Boehner in the premier position because he is the undisputed leader when it comes to fundraising. The Speaker was also the conduit through which corporate and special interest monies flowed to House majority members at election time and it was the Speaker who doled out that money as he saw fit. The dual authority over election funds and who gets what position on which committee has long been a very great and binding power over fellow members.

That is how it used to be. That is how the Speaker was able to control their own conference and it was very effective — while it lasted.

Now that power has been significantly diluted

[CincyDem]

1. They're starting to learn how expense it really is to be "bought and paid for". n/t

[merrily]

3. Welcome to the club. The 99% has been experiencing it here since 1607.

[merrily]

2. Thanks I never knew that Speaker had to do with money, too. should have guessed.

Best guide of American politics ever written or said: "Follow the money."

[Cosmocat]

4. I fail to see how this is a problem for them

all these assholes are concerned about is winning elections and hearing themselves spew their stupidity.

fucking up government in their insane minds justifies what they "believe."

If it helps them to win elections, and it does, that is all they care about.

[Nitram]

5. Cosmocat, it's a problem because it dilutes the power of the speaker.

Which in turn makes it possible for the Tea Party wackos to derail the Speaker's agenda. A split GOP results in more influence by the minority democratic members.

[Cosmocat]

6. In what world is this?

Whatever "split" there may or may not be in the republican party, there is one thing they are absolutely and without question in agreement on - democrats are spawn of the devil himself that rate little above the fecal matter of a tic flea.

The dems have about as much "influence" in the house as Carl Spackler had at the Bushwood Country Club.

[Bill USA]

7. much of this is also due to gerrymandered protected districts, resulting in TP-GOPer idiots. These

guys belong in a Government institution, but not the U.S. Congress.